Hello everyone, welcome to this, the first post for Walkabout. Please bare with me as I get used to the idea of putting down the relevant and not so relevant details of our journey.
The idea for this trip has has had a long gestation. Tia and I have discussed the prospect and I have planned the trip over and over in my mind for some years. As most of you know I was retrenched in 2009 and at the time wanted to take a new direction in life and career. I was counselling as a volunteer for Lifeline Face to Face Counselling and this seemed to be the right direction. Fear of the unknown drove me to accept a management position with a contracting company however and this seemed to be the right thing to do at the time. As time went by it became clear that I was not where I needed to be.
The stars aligned themselves about two months ago and the decision to quit my job, take the trip we had dreamed of and start a new life crystalised. This brings you up to date to where we are in our head space.
THE TRIP
What we have planned is to head west through Dubbo (stopping at the Western Plains Zoo) to Bourke and then onto Tibboburra. Frome there we head north along the Bore Track to Innaminka and via the Cordillo Downs road to Birdsville. Our journey heads east to Longreach (the QANTAS museum) and Carnarvon Gorge. We will then wander north along the Queensland interior to finally come to the coast at Cairns. We then take a 10 day diversion to Port Moresby to see our son. While in PNG he is going to take us to Goroka and Madang. On our return to Cairns we will follow the Savannah Way to Darwin. A short sidetrip to Kakadu should prove interesting. The main focus of our trip is to spend some time in the Kimberley's in WA. To this end we will slowly travel down the Gibb River Road to Derby and then Broome. If time permites a side trip to Cape Leveque will be really interesting. This will mark the furthest point from home and as we start the journey back we will tackle the Tanami Road through the Tanami Desert (suprise suprise!) to Alice Springs making sure we spend some time at Wolf Creek Crater. Again if time permits we will come home via Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound.
I'm exhausted just listing this out, heavens knows how we will feel after driving the journey.
Anyway, the Jeep and trailer are ready for a not too early start on Thursday (see photos).
For those of you who were treated to Kit's blog, I will try to ensure the standard is maintained but I cannot guarantee this.
Stay tuned for futher updates with road conditions (reeeally exciting), best campsites (just in case you venture this way), Tia's latest chat topics (not enough room for this on the blog) and photos (Alan gone native?)
Love to all
Alan and Tia
The idea for this trip has has had a long gestation. Tia and I have discussed the prospect and I have planned the trip over and over in my mind for some years. As most of you know I was retrenched in 2009 and at the time wanted to take a new direction in life and career. I was counselling as a volunteer for Lifeline Face to Face Counselling and this seemed to be the right direction. Fear of the unknown drove me to accept a management position with a contracting company however and this seemed to be the right thing to do at the time. As time went by it became clear that I was not where I needed to be.
The stars aligned themselves about two months ago and the decision to quit my job, take the trip we had dreamed of and start a new life crystalised. This brings you up to date to where we are in our head space.
THE TRIP
What we have planned is to head west through Dubbo (stopping at the Western Plains Zoo) to Bourke and then onto Tibboburra. Frome there we head north along the Bore Track to Innaminka and via the Cordillo Downs road to Birdsville. Our journey heads east to Longreach (the QANTAS museum) and Carnarvon Gorge. We will then wander north along the Queensland interior to finally come to the coast at Cairns. We then take a 10 day diversion to Port Moresby to see our son. While in PNG he is going to take us to Goroka and Madang. On our return to Cairns we will follow the Savannah Way to Darwin. A short sidetrip to Kakadu should prove interesting. The main focus of our trip is to spend some time in the Kimberley's in WA. To this end we will slowly travel down the Gibb River Road to Derby and then Broome. If time permites a side trip to Cape Leveque will be really interesting. This will mark the furthest point from home and as we start the journey back we will tackle the Tanami Road through the Tanami Desert (suprise suprise!) to Alice Springs making sure we spend some time at Wolf Creek Crater. Again if time permits we will come home via Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound.
I'm exhausted just listing this out, heavens knows how we will feel after driving the journey.
Anyway, the Jeep and trailer are ready for a not too early start on Thursday (see photos).
For those of you who were treated to Kit's blog, I will try to ensure the standard is maintained but I cannot guarantee this.
Stay tuned for futher updates with road conditions (reeeally exciting), best campsites (just in case you venture this way), Tia's latest chat topics (not enough room for this on the blog) and photos (Alan gone native?)
Love to all
Alan and Tia
Hi from mum,having breakfast at maureen and gordon's. watch out for the crocs while you are camping!!!!!. Have fun take it easy and all that stuff.Love mum xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxxo
ReplyDeletehave a great trip. gordon and I did a ten day trip up the Gibb river road just the best you will love it Take care best regards maureen